The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1887-11-04
forth. He reached the smoxenouse.

forth. He reached the slhokenouse,
there WIS no one in it; there was q
gap, though, where tour long fitches
OF bacon had been!
John Pontiac's wife saw him 20 over
to the storehouse, the door OF which
WAS open, too. He looked in, then
stopped and started back as if in hor-
ror. -Four titches tied together with
a rope We're on the floor and inside
was a man filling a bag with flour
from a barrel.
well. we'll, this lisa terrible thing"
said old John Pontiac to himself,
shrinking around the corner "Peter
McGrath! Oh. my! Oh, my!"
He became hot all over, as if he had
done something disgraceful himself.
There was nobody that he had respect.
ed more than that pig-headed. Peter.
What to do? He mus punish him,
OF course; but howS Jail-ano him
with eleven children! oh, my! Oh,
my!" Old John almost wished he
had not been awakened to see this
terrible downfall.
at will never do to let him go off
with it," he said to himself after a lit
tie IT Election. "Ill put HIM so that
he'll know better than that another
time"
Peter McGrath, as he entered the
s%torehouse, had felt that bacon heav-
Ter than the heaviest end OF the big
aest stick o timber he had ever helped
to cart. He felt guilty, sneaking, dis.
| graced; be felt that the literal Devil
had first tempted him neur the house,
then all suddenly-with his own
hunger pangs and thoughts of his
starving family-swept him into the
smoke-house to steal. But he hal
consented to do it, he had said ne
would take flour too-and he would
he was so obstinate! And withal he
hated old John Pontiac worse than
ever, for 10Y he accused him OF being
the cause OF his coming to this.
Then all of a sudden he met the hca
OF Pontiac looking in at the door.
Peter sprang back-he saw Siam
brook iail-he saw his eleven children
and his wite-he felt himself detected
felon, and that was worst Of all.
"Well, Peter, you'd ought to have
come right in" we're the words that
came to his amazed ears, in John
Pontiac's heartiest voice. "The mis-
sis would have been glad to see you.
We did go to bed bit early, but there
wouldn't have been any harm in an
old neighbor like you waking US up"
"Not & word OF that-hold on! list,
en- to me. 1t would be q pity if old
friends like you and me, Peter,
couldn't help one another to u tritling
loan OF provisions without making a
fuss over it," And old John, taking
up the scoop. went on filling the bag
as if that we're a matter of course.
Peter did not sp"ak-he could not.
II was going around TO your place
tomorrow" resumed John c%heeriully,
"to see ii | couldn't hire you again.
There's u job OF hewing for you in the
C%onlongo shanty-a mans gone of
sick. But can't give more'n twenty.
two, OF say twenty-three, seeing
you're an old neighbor. What do you
say?"
Peter still said nothing-he was
choking.
"You had better have a bit of some.
thing nor than bacon and flour, Pc
ter" he went on, land I'll give you a
hand to carry the truck home. Iguess
your wife won't mind seeing me with
%you-then she'll know you've taken a
Job with me again, you see. Come
along and give me a hand to hitch the
mare up. I'll drive you down"
"Ah-ah-Boss-Boss!" spoke Peter
then, with terrible gasps between
'Boss-0 my God, Mr.. Pontiac
can't never look you-in the face
againl"
''Peter M~cGrath-old neighbour
and John Pontiac laid his hand onthe
shaking shoulder, II guess ! know al
about it; | guess LIDO. Sometimes 6
man is driven he don't know how
Nowwe will say nc more ABOUT it. II
load up, and you come right alons
with me. And mind, III do the talk
ing to your wife"